Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina Announces No Alliance for Upcoming Elections
Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit President Ravinder Raina stated that the party will not form any alliance with political parties for the Assembly elections scheduled for the third week of September. However, the BJP may collaborate with independent candidates for 8-10 assembly seats in the Kashmir region.
Raina emphasized, “We will not form any alliance with any political party. BJP will contest elections with full strength, and the public of Jammu and Kashmir will vote overwhelmingly for BJP, allowing us to form the government.”
When asked about former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks on Article 370, Raina responded, “He knows that his government is not going to be formed here, prompting him to make such statements.”
On former Jammu and Kashmir Minister Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali joining the BJP, Raina said, “He is a very big political leader of J&K. We welcome him in the BJP, and with his joining, the party will get strengthened.”
The polling in the Union Territory will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with vote counting on October 4. These are the first elections in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kashmir in March and announced development packages to boost agriculture and tourism.
The Election Commission of India has directed enforcement agencies to ensure impartial and transparent polling. There are a total of 90 assembly constituencies, with 87.09 lakh total electors, including 44.46 lakh males, 42.62 lakh females, and 169 transgender individuals. Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of 10 years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014. The Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024.
Doubts Revealed
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in northern India. It used to be a state but is now a Union Territory.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
Ravinder Raina -: Ravinder Raina is a leader in the BJP and is the President of the party in Jammu and Kashmir.
Alliance -: An alliance is when two or more groups or parties work together for a common goal. In this case, it means political parties working together in elections.
Assembly elections -: Assembly elections are when people vote to choose their representatives in the state or Union Territory government.
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a part of the Indian Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. It was removed in 2019.
Independent candidates -: Independent candidates are people who run in elections without being part of any political party.
Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali -: Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali is a former minister who has now joined the BJP.
Prime Minister Modi -: Prime Minister Modi is the current Prime Minister of India. His full name is Narendra Modi.
Development packages -: Development packages are plans and funds provided by the government to improve infrastructure and services in a region.